Half to doctor abraham stout



(No Model.)

W; E KIGHLINE.

' MACHINE FOR GURVING RAILROAD RAILS. No. 279,394. Patented June 12,1883.

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UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. KICHLTNE, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE- HALE TO'DOGTOR ABRAHAM STOUT, OFSAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR CURVING RAILROAD-RAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,394, dated June 12, 1883. Application filed March 16, 1882, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. KICHLINE, of Bethlehem, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Gurving Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of rails, preferably while hot, for the purpose of giving them such curve as will counteract any unequal contraction consequent upon any variable coolingof the rail, and to bring about, .as far as is possible, a straight rail instead of the curved one, resulting when no curving de- I 5 vice is used. Heretofore for this purpose the rails have been bent, while hot, by hand and by machinery, as follows: by means of the straightening-plate for obtaining aproper side alignment, andalso the curving-plate upon which the rail is jolted or sledged until it assumes the curve .of the plate and the curve necessary to counteract the contraction due to the slower cooling of the more bulky portion at the top of the rail. Another method is the adaptation of the ordinary straightening-rolls set in alternate triangular positions to give a proper curvature to the rail. The result of this operation after cooling has not proved satisfactory, and cold straightening is found necessary. A third method is in having the rail laid on its side and pressing it,-by means of sliding lugs at each end, against adjustable lugs, forming the required curve and suiting the bottomface of the rail as itlies on its side.

A fourth consists in having the rail laid, as before, on its side upon the rail-earriage which carries it to and from the saws. To this railcarriage, the motion of which accomplishes the bending, are attached and pivoted a number of head-blocks or projections which press the rail against the adjustable lugs, forming the re quired curve, mounted on a series of arms, which are in turn mounted onstandards. The rail-carriage is moved toward the prepared templet, and these head-blocks or projections 011 the rail-carriage press the rail to the required curve; but in order to release the bent rail from the lugs forming the curve the carriage must be withdrawn and with it the bent '50 rail, when the series of arms, with their'adjustable lugs, are lowered out of the way. Both the third and fourth methods are alike objectionable in their results, in that the rail is not bent at a perpendicular to the vertical rib of the rail, owing to its reclining on the extra wide flange and narrow wearing portion of the rail. By this means the rail is bent into a curve of conic section, the effect of which on cooling is to produce a rail not setting plumb I on its base-a feature which cannot be remedied 6o afterward. A rail when cooled is in the most satisfactory condition if no strain has been put upon it during the process of p reparatory bending, from sledgin g, bruising, or otherwise warp ing or stretching some of the fibers. In the old methods the irregular and untimely handling required after the rail is bent tends to in jure thegiven curvature of the rail.

, The object of my invention is to provide a means for bending the hot rails, so that the above objections may be overcome, as far as is possible, and a perfectly straight rail result after cooling takes place. I desire to bend the rail exactly in line with the vertical rib,-im-

parting to it such curve as may be found nec- 7 5 essary for any particular size, weight, shape, or length of rail, and this, too, without expos ing the bent rail to any unnecessary handling while being operated upon.

This invention consists in the combination and arrangement of conforming-bars with horizontally-adjustable faces, adjusting-bars for op,-

erating the conforming-bars, and a series of adjustingscrews and sliding nuts to which the adjusting-bars are attached to adapt the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars to any required curve or bend suitable to the shrinkage of the rail for cooling.

It also consists in the combination and arrangement of lifting draw-bars placed so close together as to properly support the hot bar under operation, and lifting-arms arranged for the purpose of lifting and lowering each of the lifting draw-bars, whereby the hot rail to be bent is carried up and drawn to or pressed against'the adjustable faces of the conformingbars.

It also consists in the arrangement, construc tion, and combination of the lifting draw-bars with the adjustable faces of the conforming Ioo bars, so that on the hot rail being lifted from v the carrying-rolls for the purpose of bending it may be drawn or pressed against the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, bending it to the required curve.

This invention also consists in the means for adjusting the conforming-bars and their horizontally-adjustable faces to comply with the required curve or bend to which it is found necessary to bring the rail.

It also consists in the means for adjusting and operating the lifting draw-bars, by which means the rail is drawn up to or pressed against the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, whereby the rail is bent to the required shrinkage-curve.

It also consists in the arrangement and combination of the whole or several parts of the bending device with the carrying-rolls in a rail-mill, whereby the rails are brought from the saws, when cut to gage-length, and bent to the required curve for shrinkage.

The invention also consists in the combination of parts and features hereinafter described to be operated upon. Fig. 3 represents a ver tical section of the machine in position while bending the rail. Fig. 1 is an enlarged view of the working end of the lifting draw-bar, showing the manner of gripping and controlling the rail.

Similar letters of reference designate corre sponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the ordinary bed, with carrying-rolls (0, along which the rails are carried from the saws to the curving device.

B designates the lifting-arms, by the operation of which. the lifting draw-bars are raised and brought into contact with the adjustable conforming-bars.

C designates the lifting draw-bars, made adjustable lengthwise by means of an ordinary slot and belt, a right-and-leiit screw, or any equivalent method.

D designates the adjustable conformingbars; (I, the adjustable faces of the conforming bars.

(I/ designates the slots through which the adjusting-bars (Z operate in adjusting the conforming-bars to the required curve.

E designates the traveling or sliding nuts by means of which the adjusting-bars d are brought to bear upon the conforming-bars whenadjusting them to the required curve to. which the rail is to be bent.

e designates the adjusting-screw for operating the traveling nuts E.

F designates the housing, to which, on the one side, the adjusting-screws e are attached, and through which, on the opposite side, the adjusting-screws are operated at c.

G represents the erossheads or carriages, to

which one or more of the lifting draw-bars O are connected. '0 designates the linkskconnecting the lifting draw-bars O with the cross-head or carriage G.

g designates the links connecting the crosshead or carriage G with the operating-lever H, to which power is applied by means of the rod h. b designates the rock-shaft to which the lifting-arms B are attached; I), the crank by means of which motion is given to the rockshaft b, whichinturn operates the lifting-arms B to raise and lower the lifting draw-bars C.

b designates the friction-rollers attached to the lifting-arms B, upon which the lifting draw-bars 0 travel to and fro in bending 0r curving the rail.

I) designates the support upon which the lifting-ar1ns B rest when not in operation; Z), the counter-balance for relieving the operat ing-crank b of part of its lead. I) designates the guides for keeping the lifting draw-bars in place upon the rollers.

b and Z) designate operating links and cranks through which motion. is given to the lifting portion of the machine.

I designates the frames upon which are located the bearings for the rock-shaft, to which the operating-levers are attached.

J designates the bearings for rock-shaft I; c, the lug by means of which the hot rail is pressed or brought to bear against the adj ustable faces of the conforming-bars to bring about the required curve of rail for coolin 0 designates the inclined plane on the lifting drawbars, up which the head of the rail is skidded to bring it plumb with the curved face of the adjustable conforming-bars. These portions 0 and o are'ordinarily only attached to two or three lifting-bars at each end to accon'imodate varying lengths of rail to be curved.

In the operation of this device the hot rail, after having been cut to standard length at the saws, is withdrawn and transferred to the carrying-rolls, by means of which it is run onto the rolls a, forming a part and continuation of the carrying-rolls. With the hot rail deposited upon these carrying-rolls a it is ready for curving. The power is applied, and by means of the operating-cranks b and I), connected by the rod 1), the rock-shaft is caused to rotate, can rying with it the lifting-arms B, upon which, through the friction-rollers b the lifting drawbars Crest. This operation raises the lift ing draw-bars 0 till the hot rail. is brought to a level with the conformingbars \Vith this accomplished, or preferably while it is being accomplished, power is applied to and the lever H is operated, and through the small connecting-links the cross-head or carriage G'on the slides g is put in motion, drawing the several lifting draw-bars in position to grip and press the rail against the adjusted faces of the conforming-bars. This shapes or curves the rail to the required cooling basis, so that when cold it will be as near as possible to a straight line. Vith the rail brought to the re the railv and different at each end.

quired curve, the lifting draw-bars are lowered to theirresting-places, and the rail is in position to be run off to the cooling-bed. The

friction-rollers I) operate to ease the pressure of the lifting draw-bars and rail, as well as to permit of a smooth travel while in operation.

An important feature in this invention is the method of operation and construction devised in the lifting draw-bars. In order to insure-a proper perpendicular curving of the rail, the working portion of the draw-bar is so constructed that while the rail is being drawn up to position of curvature the head of the rail is, by means of the raised portion or inclination c' skidded up to suchposition that the bot tom of the rail is brought to a plumb contact with the adjustable faces of the conformingbars. The lug 0, attached to or forming a portion of the lifting draw-bars C, bears upon the top or head of the rail, pressing it gradually against the adjusted faces of the conforming bars, thus bringing each portion of the hot rail in position against the corresponding face of each conformingbar, resulting in the required bending or curving of the hot rail. To allow this grip portion or lug cgreater freedom of operation, and permitting the large flat face of the bottom of the rail to bring itself to positi on against the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, the connecting-links 0 between the cross-head or carriage G and the lifting draw-bars O are so placed to allow a self-adjustment of the draw-bars themselves in doing their work. The motion of the link is limited to a nearly horizontal direction to pre vent it dropping out of a direct line of work. This lug c need not necessarily be placed upon or attached to all the lifting draw-bars, but may be left off the middle bars and ap: plied to one or more bars at each end, according to the length of rail to be worked upon, or. to the accuracy of the bend required. In the adjustment of the conforming-bars to the required curve the several screws 6 are operated by means of their heads at e, and are caused to advance the traveling or sliding nuts E up or down the screws, moving the connected ends of the adj usting-bars (P, which in turn. operate, by means of the slots (1, the conforming-bars D, bringing the oscillating adjustable faces (I to position to form the re quired curve for the rail. At the ends, where the rail may require closer or special adjust ment, the conforming-bars are placed closer together, the end bars being fixed. A combined operation is effected on the adjustable faces by hinging the two end ones together and operating them at the same time by means of the conforming-bars connected thereto, which are in turn operated by their adjusting-bar and traveling nut. This enables the operator to so regulate his curve as to take care of any special defect brought about by the ordinary handling of the rail, these defects being in most cases at a short distance from the ends of The means of adjustment for the conforming-bars are enof lifting draw-bars arranged to operate be-' tween the carryingrolls, means for raising and lowering the draw-bars, crossheads or car-' riages to which the lifting draw-bars areattached, and means for moving the crossheads or carriages to and fro relatively to the carrying-rolls, whereby the rails to be bent or ciu'ved are lifted from the carrying-rolls andbrought in contactwith the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the carrying-rolls, of lifting draw-bars, means for raising and lowering the same, a cross-head or carriage to which the lifting draw-bars are attached, ways wherein the cross-head or carriage may slide or run, and an oscillating lever whereby the lifting draw-bars are moved to. and fro relatively to the carrying rolls.

3. The combination, with a rail -bendin g machine, of a lifting draw-bar or lifting drawbars having a stop or lug attached to or supported thereon, and a skid or inclined plane attached to or supported thereon, whereby the rail may be brought to atrue position against the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the carrying-rolls, of adjustable conforming-bars, adjusting-bars for controlling the movementsof the same, and means for operating the adj usting-bars, whereby a templet of the curve to which the rails are to be bent is formed.

The combination, with the carrying-mils, of conforming-bars, adjusting-bars attached to and operated by traveling or sliding nuts, adjusting-screws for operating the traveling or sliding nuts, and ways wherein the traveling or sliding nuts and the confo1.'mingbars may .of conformifig-bars, adjusting-bars whereby the conforming-bars are kept up to their work, adjustingscrews and sliding nuts for operating the adjusting-bars, and a housing whereby the same may be kept free from dust or dirt, within which the traveling nuts are operated and guided, and through the walls of which the conforming-bars are guided and operated, substantially as shown and described.

7. Thecombination of the lifting draw-bars, means for raising and lowering the same, means for operating to and fro the said lifting draiv bars, and the horizontally adjustable faces forming the templet to which the rail is bent,

substantially as shown and described.

1 8. The combination of the lifting draw-bars,

the carrying-rolls, means for raising and lowering the lifting draw-bars, means for operating to and fro the lifting draw-bars, and the adjustable conforming-bars, controlled and operated substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination of the carrying-rolls, the lifting draw-bars, means for raising and lowering the same, means for operating the same to and fro the adjustable conformingbars, and the adjustingbars and sliding nuts for operating the same, substantially as shown and described.

10. The combination of the carrying-rolls, the lifting draw-bars, the carriage or carriages for operating: the same, the links and oscillating lever, the adjustable faces of the conforming-bars, the conformingbars, the adjustingbars for op erating and controlling the conforming-bars, the nuts whereby the adjusting-bars are operated, and the adjusting-screws, with the inclosing-housing, substantially as shown 20 and described.

\VILLIABI E. KICHLINE.

Vitnesses:

BENEDICT 'WEAVER, HIRAM G. (moi-I. 

